The top reported proficiency rate is 61% in Social studies. The lowest is 39% in English language arts.
Original Research by School Decision on Stewart County Middle School
Stewart County Middle School is a regular public school in Dover, Tennessee, serving grades six through eight. It is the sole middle school within Stewart County Schools, a single-district county, so for most families in the area it is the only public option for these grades. The student body draws from across the county, including the town of Dover and surrounding rural areas.
Dover itself is a small county seat located on the Cumberland River, near recreational and historical sites such as Fort Donelson National Battlefield and Land Between the Lakes. The town is car-dependent, with most residents commuting by private vehicle, and its economy centers on accommodation, retail, and educational services. Population and property values have been growing steadily over the past decade, though housing prices in the area have softened slightly in the most recent year. Families moving to Stewart County generally find a quiet, rural setting with a compact historic downtown.
The school’s enrollment is predominantly White, with a modest share of Hispanic students and small numbers of Black, Asian, Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander, American Indian, and multiracial students. Data on the share of students qualifying for free or reduced-price meals, as well as counts of students with disabilities and English learners, were not available in the state-reported profile. A parent may wish to ask the school directly for these numbers to get a fuller picture of student support needs.
On Tennessee’s TNReady assessments, the school’s results varied by subject. In social studies, a majority of students scored at the proficient level or above, the strongest showing among the four subjects tested. Science results followed, with about half of students reaching proficiency. Math and English language arts were softer, with fewer than half of students meeting the state’s proficiency benchmark. These are the only state test data reported for this school; no trend information across multiple years was available, so it is not possible to tell whether performance has been improving or declining.
Because Stewart County Middle School serves only grades six through eight, there is no graduation rate to report. No information on chronic absenteeism, discipline rates, or staffing was provided. The school is not a charter or magnet school, and its Title I status was not listed.
The overall picture is of a middle school that performs unevenly across subjects. The higher rates in social studies and science may reflect particular instructional strengths or curriculum emphases, while the lower rates in math and English suggest areas where families might want to understand the school’s approach and support structures. With a single middle school in the district, every family in Stewart County with a student in these grades attends here unless they choose a private or homeschool option—so the school’s composition and outcomes directly shape the experience for nearly all local middle schoolers. The setting is rural, the town is compact, and the community has seen modest growth. For a family considering a move to Dover or already living in Stewart County, a conversation with the school about academic supports, especially in math and reading, would be a reasonable next step.
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